Now that, I could use. “Thank you.”

“Two days,” the vocal bird warned. Then they both took off, their powerful wings blowing hair back from my face.

I turned to watch, again shielding my eyes from the sun, until they landed smoothly on the front porch. They didn’t look back, and no one came out to watch me leave. I was truly on my own, for the first time in my entire life.

Wait, is that right? While I was in college, my father always had someone watching me. Even when I’d been kidnapped by Miguel, I’d had my cousin Abby for company, and my brother Ryan to manipulate and spy on.

Now I had nothing. No company, no plan, and no transportation.

Fortunately, I had my cell, and already knew there was reception on the side of the mountain. What are the chances I can get a signal in the valley, as well?

Two bars. It could have been worse.

I walked as I autodialed, and again my father answered on the first ring. “Faythe?”

“Yeah.” My boots crunched on gravel, and the rumble from my stomach reminded me that I hadn’t eaten in…it had to be nearly fifteen hours. “I’m on some tiny gravel road in front of the nest, somewhere east of Alamogordo, New Mexico. Any idea how far it is to the nearest town with a car rental place? Also, I need a plane ticket to Kentucky. As near as you can get me to Malone’s property.”

“Whoa, slow down.…” Leather creaked as my dad sank into the armchair in his office. I wanted to be there with him. I wanted to be planning things behind the scenes, instead of hiking my happy ass across New Mexico alone in search of the nearest Hertz. Not to mention a restaurant. Fortunately, I’d visited the birds’ bathroom before I left.

“I don’t have a lot of time here, Dad.” Twigs snapped beneath my feet when I stomped over fallen branches, gone brittle with age.

“Faythe, you cannot go looking for proof of Malone’s guilt in his own territory.”

I kicked a broken stick out of my way and stepped over a rain-filled dip in the road. “They’re going to kill Kaci in less than forty-eight hours if I don’t.”

“You really think they’ll go through with it?”

“There’s not a doubt in my mind.” I shoved hair from my face, where it had come loose from my ponytail. “They’re not like us, Dad. They’re fanatically loyal to their Flight members, but won’t put themselves out on anyone else’s behalf unless it will directly benefit them. They don’t care if Kaci lives or dies, but they know we do. And they know they’re only as good as their word. They’ll go through with it.”

His pause was heavy with thoughts I could only begin to imagine. He had to think about all of us. About what would be best for the Pride. Kaci was just one member, but she was ours, and she was defenseless. “Okay then, we have to get her out. If they won’t negotiate, we’ll have to go in by force.”

I shook my head again, though I knew he couldn’t see it. “Won’t work. There’re too many of them. And if we invade their home—where their children are—they’ll fight even more fiercely. Unfortunately, they’re not limited by space in their own home, like they would be in ours. Their nest is cavernous, with plenty of room to swoop and dive. And, anyway, we can’t get up the side of the mountain in human form, and in cat form, we can’t carry weapons.”

Glass clinked over the line. Scotch. I could certainly have used a drink right about then. My father sighed. “I didn’t say it would be easy. But it’s better than taking Malone on.”

“I’m not talking about fighting him, Dad. Not yet. This is a total covert op. I’ll be in and out before they even know I’m there.” As soon as I figure out what I’m looking for…

“No. You’re too vulnerable on your own.”

“So send me backup.” I stepped over a rotting log lying across the gravel road and silently cursed the fading daylight. I wouldn’t be able to travel very well or very quickly in human form, but if I Shifted, I couldn’t carry my clothes or my phone. And it was cold in the foothills in February, yet I had nothing but my jacket to keep me warm. “Put a couple of the guys on a plane. I’ll wait for them.” If I ever find an airport…

“Marc and Jace are already on the way.”

My initial massive surge of relief was eclipsed almost immediately by confusion. “How did you know where to send them?”

“We didn’t know where they took you and Kaci, but we figured it’d be out West. So as soon as I got the call from Mateo, I sent them north through Dallas, then west on I20. They’re waiting just this side of the territorial boundary.”

“I already gave them their new heading.” Michael spoke up from somewhere—probably from behind our father’s desk. “They’ll be there in about three hours, but we’ll need you to narrow down your location a bit by then, so you can give them better directions.”

“No problem.” Surely I could find a landmark, or road sign, or something by then. If I ever got off the gravel road and onto something a little better traveled. “What about Teo and Manx? And Des? They’re okay?”

Please, please, please let them be okay.…

“They’re shaken up pretty badly, and Carey Dodd and Mateo have some deep scratches, but there’s no permanent damage. Teo says they only sent four thunderbirds after you. One took Kaci, and a second and third took you when you went after her. He and Dodd beat the fourth with a crowbar. Manx was upset that she didn’t get a piece of the action.”